BenK
15-11-2017, 21:37
...Or descending the slippery slope? Either way, I'm having fun, even if my bank balance isn't! As I wrote in my 'Welcome' thread, (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?54660-Greetings)1 I'm up to my neck in a major upgrade, so I thought I'd start a thread detailing my progess.
The first step was replacing my old Quad 303 with the Aleph 3, which dropped the noise floor by a factor of about 50.2 Next came the Aleph Ono, which really sharpened up bass and percussion and made everything sound all crisp and punchy.3 Today part three landed in the form of an NOS Pass Labs X2 pre. I confess to a certain amount of trepidation here; how much more could there be to come without changing source or speakers? Answer: lots more! Given that it is fresh out of the box, and therefore presumably still running in, the difference is really appreciable. Compared to the Quad 33 it replaced4 the noise floor has dropped again, and a layer of previously unapparent harshness is gone. The sound feels creamier and richer from top to bottom, with a stately, unhurried quality. Not that it's slow; more that the music is unfolding at its own pace rather than being squeezed out of a tube. Cymbals sound like struck brass rather than bursts of static, and acoustic guitars seem full, woody and resonant. I've got that lovely new gear feeling, where I can't decide what to play next, just to hear the difference.
Things are moving on apace, as I'm also in the process of buying a tonearm to go with the Bauer,5 then the hunt's on for a cart. On of the surprises thus far is that the little 2M Red hasn't disgraced itself pushing a back end of infinitely greater value than it was ever intended to be paired with. With every addition it's just showed a little more of itself. Even so, I can't wait so see what something really good can do!
Onwards and upwards!
1 Thanks, by the way to all for the warm reception. I got a bit behind in replying.
2 To be fair to the poor old Quad it was well overdue a service and was making random Rice Krispies noises, so not really showing its best.
3 I have a suspicion that being able to show the 2M Red the right capacitance did no end of good on its own.
4 Another unfair comparison.
5 Details once the deal's done.
The first step was replacing my old Quad 303 with the Aleph 3, which dropped the noise floor by a factor of about 50.2 Next came the Aleph Ono, which really sharpened up bass and percussion and made everything sound all crisp and punchy.3 Today part three landed in the form of an NOS Pass Labs X2 pre. I confess to a certain amount of trepidation here; how much more could there be to come without changing source or speakers? Answer: lots more! Given that it is fresh out of the box, and therefore presumably still running in, the difference is really appreciable. Compared to the Quad 33 it replaced4 the noise floor has dropped again, and a layer of previously unapparent harshness is gone. The sound feels creamier and richer from top to bottom, with a stately, unhurried quality. Not that it's slow; more that the music is unfolding at its own pace rather than being squeezed out of a tube. Cymbals sound like struck brass rather than bursts of static, and acoustic guitars seem full, woody and resonant. I've got that lovely new gear feeling, where I can't decide what to play next, just to hear the difference.
Things are moving on apace, as I'm also in the process of buying a tonearm to go with the Bauer,5 then the hunt's on for a cart. On of the surprises thus far is that the little 2M Red hasn't disgraced itself pushing a back end of infinitely greater value than it was ever intended to be paired with. With every addition it's just showed a little more of itself. Even so, I can't wait so see what something really good can do!
Onwards and upwards!
1 Thanks, by the way to all for the warm reception. I got a bit behind in replying.
2 To be fair to the poor old Quad it was well overdue a service and was making random Rice Krispies noises, so not really showing its best.
3 I have a suspicion that being able to show the 2M Red the right capacitance did no end of good on its own.
4 Another unfair comparison.
5 Details once the deal's done.